Amending regulations on ship inspection cycle

The Ministry of Transport has just issued National Technical Regulation on classification and construction of inland waterway vehicles (QCVN 72:2025 replacing QCVN 72:2013), effective from August 1, 2025.

Abolish annual inspection of some ships for the first 5 years

According to QCVN 72:2025, the inspection period of inland waterway vehicles (ships) includes: Annual inspection, Intermediate inspection, Periodic inspection, and Drydock inspection.

QCVN 72:2025 replaces QCVN 72:2013, which has revised the inspection cycle for some ships of class VR-SI, VR-SII, VR-SIII (illustrative photo).

In particular, the intermediate inspection must be carried out within a period of no more than 36 months, within a period of one month before or one month after the scheduled inspection date and coinciding with the second or third annual inspection.

Periodic survey to confirm the class awarded to the ship. The period between two periodic surveys for all types of ships shall not exceed 5 years.

The purpose of the drydock survey is to confirm the technical condition of the underwater parts in order to maintain the class assigned to the ship. For ships with wooden hulls without outer covers, the drydock survey period shall not exceed once every 12 months. For other ships, the drydock survey shall be carried out simultaneously with the periodical survey and shall be carried out within 36 months from the date of completion of the classification survey or from the date of the previous drydock survey.

Notably, the new regulation has revised the inspection cycle, for ships of class VR-SI, VR-SII, VR-SIII that are not passenger ships, ships carrying people, oil tankers, liquefied gas carriers, ships carrying dangerous chemicals, ships carrying dangerous goods, and ships with wooden hulls without outer shells, the annual inspection requirement is not applied until the ship is 5 years old.

QCVN 72:2025 also supplements special types of ships and ships carrying dangerous goods to suit reality and ensure technical safety and environmental protection for these types of ships (illustrative photo).

Supplementing regulations for special types of ships and ships carrying dangerous goods

The River Ship Department, Vietnam Register said that in QCVN 72:2025, the Ministry of Transport also revised and supplemented many other regulations on ship inspection, including: Revising the inspection volume in new construction, conversion, and exploitation; Supplementing the method of calculating significant wave height to determine ship class for ships operating in areas where there are no specific regulations on operating class; Supplementing regulations on inspection of industrial products.

At the same time, the new standard also amends the regulations on significant wave height Hs according to ship class to support operators as well as the control of ship operations by competent authorities. Accordingly, ships VR-SB, VR-SI, VR-SII, VR-SIII will be allowed to operate in waters with significant wave heights of 1.85 m; 1.30 m; 0.80 m; 0.40 m, respectively.

QCVN72:2025 also amends and supplements regulations on ship hatch covers and adds regulations on ships carrying steel coils.

Supplement and amend regulations related to documents required for safe ship operation including: stability notice, cargo loading instructions, cargo lashing manual, grain cargo manual.

Additions and modifications related to the rudder shaft and rudder; related to the anchor equipment, replacing the anchor chain with an anchor cable.

Supplement and amend regulations related to ships using gasoline fuel. Supplement regulations for ships carrying dangerous goods, chemical bulk carriers, and liquefied gas carriers (applying regulations similar to those for seagoing ships). Supplement regulations for other types of ships, including: crane ships, crane pontoons, sand carriers, self-elevating ships, ships running on low-flashpoint fuel, and ships using batteries as propulsion energy.

In addition, the standard also adds regulations on machine control by wire drive system, regulations related to high voltage. Adds detailed regulations for explosion-proof electrical equipment.

Supplement and modify electrical equipment for special types of ships (oil tankers, chemical tankers, liquefied gas tankers, catamarans, container ships, dangerous goods ships).

Supplement and amend regulations related to fireproof structures, fire-fighting equipment; related to materials, welding; related to VR-SB ship's freeboard, towards approaching restricted seagoing ships III.

Supplement and amend requirements related to life-saving equipment, radio equipment, navigational and rescue equipment.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/sua-quy-dinh-ve-chu-ky-dang-kiem-tau-thuy-192250113152338801.htm